Road Trip

Lately, we have been making quite a few road trips back and forth due to the upcoming move. As I was exiting a highway my mind wandered (not too far since I was driving) and it thought of the parallels between a physical road trip and a spiritual road trip.

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When you take a physical road trip it is planned out fairly well, especially if you are taking children - I can remember before being parents it was fairly common for hubby and I to take spur of the moment trips and not worry about what hotel/motels we would stay at - we knew we would find one and that would be that - we had few responsibilities - no children, no livestock, etc. Once you have children that changes quite a bit, you want to clarify your destination, you don't want to go the wrong way, the time it will take, plan stops along the way, see sights, make sure you have a reserved room for the night, maybe even with a pool, using major interstates, packing, planning meals, figuring out how much money to take, activities to do while traveling, etc. All the while as you make your way to your final destination you may see detours, accidents, unplanned potty trips, U-turns, missing an exit, an out dated map sending you in the wrong direction, etc. Once you get to that final destination you are relieved, you can relax, you praise God for His provision and enjoy.

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Our spiritual road trips are very similar, are they not?

We know our final destination. How do we get there? In the book of John it tells us in chapter 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. THE WAY, the only way is through Jesus. Now that is what I call roadside assistance! Will we take wrong turns, find detours - take exits off the main road? Yes, and He is good and faithful to direct us back to our path to Him. His Word is our road map, and the Scriptures that fill it our the directions/instructions on how to return to Him, our final destination. In Psalm 16 verse 11 it says "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." What wonderful direction! We take that detour of division, jealousy, envy, self-pity or we take an exit leading off of HIS path to pre-marital sex, lying, seeking money, you name it, we have all sinned, we all have a part of our past that we are ashamed of. When you find yourself off of the main interstate to Heaven and back to your Heavenly Father, GET BACK ON - turn back to Jesus, He is there - He is guiding you, open your eyes, your ears and return.

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May we be extremely thankful for His guidance and His Word that He has left us - we do not need to wander lost on this earth that is not our permanent destination. Life here will throw at us many distractions, but with God's help we can continue on that narrow path. Slow down your way of life to include the Father. Get into His Word, don't be afraid of what others will think -

proceed with caution as you walk in this world so that you do not fall prey to its enticements. Stay away from those dark streets and corners of the unknown. The Bible helps us map out our

trip, dust off the cover, dig it out of that buried shelf in the corner, crack open the binding - get into it, let the Holy Spirit lead you and highlight what God wants you to know. In His word we find so much that He has waiting for us, comfort, encouragement, truth, wisdom, hope.

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I did not plan this road trip - was not a part of my journey, yet God tells me it is His plan for me. I could not even begin to navigate this road trip without Him by my side. I would be lost, confused and certainly in great despair if I did not have my Heavenly Father as my guide. He will never leave you nor forsake you, no matter what type of detour along life's route you take, just turn and cry out to Him for direction. This is the most important TRIP of your life.

Plan out your life as carefully as you would plan out your next Road Trip! And remember.....